The attempt by Pakistani authorities to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan for failing to appear in court on corruption charges resulted in violent clashes between security forces and Khan’s supporters, which continued into a second day.
The clashes in Lahore have injured 69 people, including 34 police officers, and there are reports of people armed with guns inside Khan’s residence. Videos shared by Khan’s party and local media show police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse his supporters, who responded by throwing stones.
Protests also erupted in other cities in support of Khan, who accused the government of colluding with the military to remove him from office and attempting to arrest him to prevent his participation in upcoming elections.
In a video message on Twitter, Khan called on his supporters to fight for their rights and “real freedom” if he is arrested. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Khan stated that the government’s intention in seeking his arrest is to disqualify him from participating in the upcoming elections.
